Election: Five vie for State School Superintendent

DEMOCRATS

Beth FarokhiAge: 62Occupation: Educator Residence: Marietta, GAWebsite: www.bethforeducation.com• Attended Georgia Equality’s Evening for Equality• Supports civil unions but not full marriage for gay couples• Said she had no opinion on the state constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.• States, “Our students need to have peer on peer education on bullying and sexual harassment. Programs geared to educate the adults and students is very important.”

Joe MartinAge: 67Occupation: Education and Business Residence: Atlanta, GAWebsite: www.joemartin.org• Asked about a possible statewide non-discrimination law covering private businesses, states, “Sexual orientation and gender identity should not be a factor in the hiring and promotion of all employees, but I do not favor a state law in this regard beyond the federal laws on non-discrimination.”• Supports civil unions, but notes: “All of the legal rights that are available to straight couples should be available to gay couples, who have entered into a legally binding civil union, but the most constructive direction at this time would be to seek to improve mutual understanding among all citizens instead of pressing for legal changes to re-define the definition of marriage.”

Brian WestlakeAge: 40Occupation: Teacher Residence: Decatur, GAWebsite: www.brianwestlake.com• Gave detailed response to problem of anti-gay bullying, noting “Both the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers have worked with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force to put together a series of workshops that would be a good place to start.”• Supports gay marriage.